Guzmania hybrid named ‘ACE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  hybrid named ‘ACE’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 to 50 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 20-50 cm length and about 2.5-5.5 cm in width). Superior floral bract production; bracts are purple in color (closest to RHS 187B); head inflorescence, measuring about 10 cm in height when flowering commences to about 18 cm in height at maturity, and about 12 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid ofGuzmania hybrid, hereinafter referred to as ‘ACE’. The present inventionrelates to seeds which are the Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’, as well as, plantsand plant parts produced by these seeds which have all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of the Guzmania hybrid‘ACE’. The present invention also relates to methods for producing theseseeds and plants of the Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’. Furthermore, the presentinvention relates to a method of producing progeny Guzmania plants bycrossing Guzmania ‘ACE’, as either the female or seed or male or pollenparent, with another Guzmania plant and selecting progeny.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new, distinct and stable hybrid ofGuzmania hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination‘Ace’. The new Guzmania ‘ACE’ originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program by the inventors in 2005, and then firstflowered in 2008, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The female or seedparent is the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 05295379(unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Guzmania conifera inbredline identified by code 0529578 (unpatented).

Guzmania is a member of the Bromeliaceae family. Guzmania ispredominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native tothe tropics. For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves.

Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may lastfor many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally fromyellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple.White or yellow, tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear on astem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short-lived.

Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse orhome use. Typically, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight. Duringthe spring to autumn period, the central vase-like part of the leafrosette is normally filled with water.

Guzmania is native to tropical America. Leaves of Guzmania are usuallyformed as basal rosettes which are stiff and entire and in severalvertical ranks. Guzmania plants have terminal spikes or panicles whichare often bracted with petals united in a tube about as long as thecalyx. The ovary is superior and the seeds plumose.

Asexual propagation of Guzmania is frequently performed by vegetativemeans through the use of tissue culture practices. Propagation ofGuzmania can also be from offshoots which can be detached from themother plant and grown in an appropriate soil or hark mixture.

Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For adetailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications,which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THEBIOLOGY OF THE BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer,Karl, BROMELIEN, Verlag, Paul Parey, Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner,BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).

A Guzmania inbred is produced by brother/sister crossing over severalgenerations to produce a genetically homozygous plant selection. Ahybrid cultivar is produced by crossing two genetically distinct inbredlines, collecting seeds produced by the cross, and germinating seedsso-produced to make hybrid plants. The hybrid seeds and plants producedby this method are uniform with respect their morphological andphysiological characteristics.

A need exists for a greater variety of Guzmania cultivars withattractive ornamental features. Additionally, a need exists foradditional Guzmania hybrid cultivars that can be easily propagated byseed. The new Guzmania ‘ACE’ was developed through a controlled breedingprogram and exhibits unique, desirable and stable characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides Guzmania plant selections that are solid,medium-sized, long-lasting hybrids with superior bract production andred-purple inflorescence that exhibits good keeping quality. The presentinvention also provides Guzmania plant selections with a headinflorescence with a unique red-purple color which distinguishes the newcultivar from typical Guzmania.

These and other objectives have been achieved in accordance with thepresent invention which provides ‘ACE’ as a new Guzmania cultivar thatis a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors,Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, in 2005.The female or seed parent is the Guzmania lingulata inbred lineidentified by code 05295379 (unpatented). The male or pollen parent isthe Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code 0529578(unpatented).

Both parental cultivars have a sufficient degree of homozygosity suchthat the progeny of the cross are genetypically and phenotypicallyuniform. The new hybrid ‘ACE’ therefore can be produced by sexualreproduction by crossing the parental inbred lines identified by thecodes 05295379 and U.S. Pat. No. 0,529,578 to produce a population ofprogeny plants, each of which has the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for the new hybrid ‘ACE’.

Seeds which are the hybrid ‘ACE’ are produced by crossing the parentalinbred lines identified by the codes 05295379 and 0529578, and aredeposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. ATCC Patent Deposit Designation No.PTA-13108. 2500 seeds were deposited with the ATCC on Aug. 1, 2012 andfound viable on Sep. 12, 2012.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to seeds which produce Guzmania hybrid‘ACE’. The present invention also relates to Guzmania plants, and partsthereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristicsof Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’. The present invention relates to a plantproduced from seeds which are Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’. The presentinvention also relates to plant parts, such as pollen, seeds orinflorescence produced by Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’.

The present invention relates to a method of producing seed which areGuzmania hybrid ‘ACE’, by a crossing Guzmania lingulata inbred lineidentified by code 05295379 (unpatented) as the female or seed parentwith Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code 0529578(unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. harvesting seeds producedfrom said cross.

The present invention also relates to a method of producing plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of theGuzmania hybrid ‘ACE’ comprising the steps of (a) crossing Guzmanialingulata inbred identified by code 05295379 (unpatented) as a female orseed parent with Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code0529578 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. (b) harvesting seedsproduced from said cross; and (c) producing plants from said harvestedseeds.

The present invention also relates to producing progeny plants from thecross of Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’, as the female or male parent, withanother Guzmania plant, and selecting progeny plants from this cross.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fees.

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of‘ACE’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of the primary and top bractsproduced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘ACE’, at 16 months ofage from potting size.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence andtop bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘ACE’, at 16months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention was created by the inventors, Elly Bak andNicolaas D. M. Steur in 2005, and flowered for the first time in 2008 inAssendelft, The Netherlands.

This invention is directed to Guzmania plant having all themorphological and physiological characteristics of the hybrid ‘ACE’produced from seeds which are the product of the cross of the Guzmanialingulata inbred line identified by code 05295379 (unpatented) as thefemale or seed parent with the Guzmania conifera inbred line identifiedby code 0529578 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. Both parentshave a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of thecross were, and continue to be, phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid‘ACE’ can therefore be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing ofthe inbred selections identified by the codes 05295379 and U.S. Pat. No.0,529,578 to produce a population of progeny plants, each of which hasthe combination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new hybrid‘ACE’.

The new hybrid ‘ACE’ can also be produced by asexually reproducingprogeny from the cross of the parental inbred lines identified by thecodes 05295379 and 0529578. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byvegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2008, in Assendelft,The Netherlands. The first ‘ACE’ plants propagated through the use ofsuch cuttings flowered in 2011, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and havedemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type and that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘ACE’ which in combination distinguish thisGuzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Solid growth habit;

2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 to 50 cm in height(above the pot when flowering);

3. Numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 20 cm to 50 cm inlength and about 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm in width.

4. Superior floral bract production;

5. Bracts are purple in color (closest to RHS 187B)

6. Head inflorescence, measuring from about 10 cm in height whenflowering commences and about 18 cm in height at maturity, and about 12cm in diameter

7. Long-lasting habit.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to the new Guzmania hybrid ‘ACE’ is theGuzmania cultivar ‘ALTO’ (patented, US PP21,215). Plants of the newhybrid ‘ACE’ differ from plants of ‘ALTO’ primarily in inflorescencesize. Plants of ‘ACE’ produce inflorescence which are 70 cm in diameterwhereas plants of ‘ALTO’ produce inflorescence which are 60 cm indiameter.

‘ACE’ has not been tested and observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environment such as temperature, light intensity, frequency offertilization, composition of fertilizer, acetylene treatment, daylength and humidity, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter,number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at thetime that flowering is induced by flowering treatment. Since treatmentto induce flowering disrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens.flowering treatment of relatively smaller plants adversely affects thegrowth of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania ‘ACE’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.Plants of ‘ACE’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures rangingfrom 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 23°C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted,but plants of ‘ACE’ are forced into flowering. The following fertilizeris added when growing plants of ‘ACE’: I part nitrogen, 0.6 partsphosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium.

Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsin a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of‘ACE’ described is about 18 weeks after flowering treatment.

Classification:

-   Botanical: Guzmania sp.    Parentage:-   Female Parent: Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code    05295379 (unpatented)-   Male Parent: Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code    0529578 (unpatented)    Plant:-   General Appearance and Form:    -   Height: About 44 cm (when flowering)    -   Width: About 70 cm    -   Shape: Funnel form rosette    -   Growth habit: Stemless    -   Plant Vigor: Good    -   Flowering Season: A fully grown plant can flower year round,        starting 18 to 20 weeks after induction of natural light or        through flowering treatment.-   Cold Tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may damage    plants.-   Fragrance: None    Foliage:-   Quantity: About 20-26 (depending on the size of the plant)-   Size of Leaf:    -   Length: About 20 cm to 50 cm (when flowering)    -   Width: About 2.5 to 5.5 cm-   Overall Shape: Linear-Lanceolate-   Apex Shape: acute-   Base Shape: strap-like around central axis-   Margin: entire-   Texture: smooth-   Orientation: leaf blades arch continuously from base.-   Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing conditions.    -   Immature and Mature:        -   Upper surface: Green, RHS 147A        -   Under surface: Green, RHS 147A with anthocyanin-   Venation: None    Inflorescence:-   Borne: Erect stalks-   Shape: head-   Size:    -   Length: About 10 cm in height when flowering commences and about        18 cm in height at maturity    -   Diameter: About 12 cm-   Time of Bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence    containing about 150 flowers (depending on the size of the plants),    and can bloom the whole year starting about 18 to 20 weeks after    natural induction or through flowering treatment.-   Duration of Bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total    blooming of the whole inflorescence is about 20 weeks.-   Petals:    -   Number: 3 per flower    -   Length: About 6 cm    -   Width: About 0.8 cm    -   Overall Shape: ligulate    -   Apex Shape: obtuse    -   Base Shape: fused    -   Color:        -   Upper and under surfaces: Yellow, RHS 9A-   Sepals:    -   Number: 3 per flower    -   Length: About 3 cm    -   Width: About 0.5 cm    -   Overall Shape: ligulate    -   Apex Shape: acute    -   Base Shape: fused    -   Color:        -   Upper and under surfaces: translucent yellow, closest to RHS            9D            Bracts:-   Scape Bracts:    -   Quantity: About 12    -   Arrangement: alternate    -   Size:        -   Length: About 30 cm (lowest) to about 10 cm (scape bracts            positioned just below the primary bracts).        -   Width: About 3 cm to 4 cm    -   Overall shape: Lanceolate    -   Apex shape: acute    -   Base shape: fused    -   Margin: Entire    -   Texture: Smooth    -   Color:        -   Upper and under surfaces: Green, closest to RHS 147A-   Primary Bracts:    -   Quantity: About 8    -   Arrangement: Alternate    -   Size:        -   Length: About 10 cm (lowest) to about 7 cm        -   Width: About 4 cm    -   Overall shape: lanceolate    -   Apex shape: acute    -   Base shape: fused    -   Margin: entire    -   Texture: smooth    -   Color:        -   Upper and under surfaces: purple, closest to RHS 187B-   Floral bracts:    -   Quantity: about 150    -   Size:        -   Length: About 7 cm (lowest) to about 2 cm (become shorter            closer to top of plant)        -   Width: about 1 to 3 cm    -   Overall shape: lanceolate    -   Apex shape: obtuse    -   Base shape: fused    -   Margin: entire    -   Texture: smooth    -   Color:        -   Lower floral bracts (closer to bottom of plant): upper and            under surfaces: red, RHS 53A        -   Higher floral bracts (closer to top of plant): upper and            under surfaces: red, RHS 53A, with yellow bract ends, RHS            12A            Reproductive Organs:-   Androecium:    -   Stamen:        -   Number: 6 per flower        -   Length: About 4.5 cm        -   Diameter: About 1 mm        -   Color: Yellow, closest to RHS 5D    -   Anther:        -   Length: About 0.6 cm        -   Color: Yellow, RHS 5D    -   Pollen:        -   Amount: None-   Gynoecium:    -   Pistil:        -   Number: 1 per flower        -   Length: About 5 cm    -   Stigma:        -   Shape: 3-parted        -   Width: About 3 mm        -   Color: light green, (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Style:        -   Length: About 4 cm        -   Color: light yellow, (too small to distinguish RHS value)    -   Ovary:        -   Position: Superior        -   Shape: Conical        -   Length: About 1 cm        -   Diameter: About 0.5 cm        -   Color: light green, (too small to distinguish RHS value)            SEEDS/FRUIT: sterile hybrid, no seed or fruit produced.            DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE: No observations made.            DISEASE/PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY: No observations made.

We claim:
 1. A Guzmania plant named ‘ACE’, representative seed havingbeen deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) withPatent Deposit Designation No.: PTA-13108.
 2. A Guzmania seed havingAmerican Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Patent Deposit Designation No.:PTA-13108.
 3. A plant part obtained from the Guzmania plant of claim 1.